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Northern CCGs fund heating

by
16 January 2013

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Funding for vulnerable people to stay warm over winter has been provided by three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in West Yorkshire.

A total of £150,000 has been provided to support a charity that aims to keep older or disabled people warm by providing practical support as well as advice.

Julia Burrows, public health consultant at NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, said: “Harsh weather conditions can have a dramatic impact on every day life, particularly for those who are most vulnerable.

“Simple things such as new duvets for children, or a food parcel for someone who’s in crisis and can’t afford shopping, can make a big difference to helping people stay warm and well during the winter months.”

The Warm Homes Health Partnership will offer a range of support from offering help in paying for heating bills, to debt advice.

A study published in the British Medical Journal Open (BMJ) showed vulnerable people were often not able to access help.

Barriers to keeping warm included “poor knowledge and awareness” of how to access help.